This was such a great read! It drew me in and didn't let go. It was romantic and heart-wrenching - all the feels. This is one I'll be thinking about for a while.

This dual timeline novel was well researched and intriguing. There was romance in both parts, one tragic, one happy. The book focused on the legend of a female highwayman who was daring and compassionate, using her ill gotten gains to improve the lives of poorer people around her. She had to resort to these means as her unloved husband leached all her inheritance to fuel the revolt against Cromwell in order to restore the monarchy. This illustrates the shocking level of powerlessness women faced in the 17th century. I did not go for the use of ghosts in here but beyond that, this rema8ns a diverting read

The Wicked Lady is quite an intriguing tale! Inspired by a rich heiress/highway robber in history named Katherine Ferrers who led a sad and conflicting life. There is mixed information available about her but the author wonderfully marries the two accounts drawing upon the factual and hypothetical to create a mesmerising story.

I have loved all of Elena Collins/Judy Leigh’s books and this one is no exception. I was drawn in from the first page and stayed up very late reading this riveting tale. Everything about this dual timeline historical paranormal was appealing: the lead and supporting characters, the setting, the eerie atmosphere and the twisty plot. Although I favoured the historical thread a little more than the modern one, I still found it essential in how it provides a great mystery for Charlie and Edie to solve (while revealing a connection to their unfolding romance). Plus, their research offers a lot of background on Katherine and the area. Things ramp up when musician Charlie sees the ghost of this woman on horseback while helping his uncle renovate one of the cottages that overlooks Nomansland Common.

Why is this teary-eyed woman wandering the plains for centuries? Between the two timelines we get to experience and hear about her dilemma, trauma, heartbreak, love and loss. It is a moving tale filled with lessons, interesting figures and long ago traditions. During the past segments, I truly felt transported to the 1600s and could understand the emotions and predicaments of Katherine, her frustrations and imprisonment within a male dominated culture. And how it compelled her to go in directions she may never have gone in a more favourable environment.

The Wicked Lady is a delicious riveting read of high adventure, forbidden romance, where our heiress heroine becomes a female Robin Hood of sorts stealing from the rich to pay the poor. It starts with her purpose to save The Cell from being sold off. Her passionate, determined heart leads her to gamble with the odds. As the plot thickens and her safety is in question, she keeps thinking ‘just one more robbery’ and she will stop. But the lure continues as her need increases but how long before disaster strikes or her good luck runs out?

I could not help but feel sad for this woman who was forced by her cruel stepfather to marry at age thirteen his sixteen year old nephew that she does not like (for good reason). It is an arranged marriage and a bad one at that for her husband takes the money, lands and buildings she inherited from her good-hearted father and disposes of them to fund the King’s war and ambitions. Thomas Fanshawe is not a likeable or very present man in the story but when he does appear— a coldness sweeps through the scenes. Although Kate resorts to less than moral activities to compensate for his actions, she garners our sympathies due to what has driven her to protect her family’s legacy. But what will it cost her? We may admire her generosity for she truly cares for the less fortunate. This tips the scales in her favour. But, does her desire to amass more funds lead her down a slippery slope?

At the beginning, I forgot how young Katherine was as she responds much like an older person. But when the story fast forwards to her twenties and we see that her determination and stubborn fortitude have only increased with time, we realise these self-preservation mechanisms end up carrying her through horrific circumstances. Although she is alone in her marriage, she is not alone in other relationships. She has the undying support of her house servants which says a lot about their thoughts of her circumstance. And she finds friendship and love in a man who joins her escapades.

I don’t want to say any more so as not to spoil the experience for others, but I encourage those who love historical fiction with ghosts or paranormal activity, to read this novel. It will keep you spellbound and pinned to the pages as you move between time lines and worlds! Each thread carries similar emotional traumas and a need for healing. But it all comes together in a beautiful blended whole. Many elements reminded me of D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover and William Langland’s Robin Hood. There are also wonderful references and appearances of literary greats Samuel Pepys, John Milton, Andrew Marvell and John Donne. There is a lot to admire in The Wicked Lady and much to whet the appetite with its literary references. This is one rollicking adventure I won’t soon forget! An easy 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my review copy.

This was an enjoyable, fairly easy read. Going between present and past tense, which I can find annoying at times, worked well here. I liked learning about the original highway robber, the wicked lady, along with our present day characters.
There was light romance for both past and present. I felt the characters in the past fell in love too sticky and it wasn't very believable, but the present day couple was over a longer period of time and felt natural.
Secondary characters weren't fleshed out, but helped move the story along.
Pretty cool that there was some historical fact in there.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, a great historical fiction that leaves you enchanted.

We have 2 timeliness, 17th.century Hertforshire, where we follow the life of Katherine Ferrers, a 13 year old heiress who is married to Thomas Fenshawe. Thomas ignores his young wife and blows through her fortune to aid his political goals.

In the current timeline, we have Charlie a musician, who is out of a job and has been dumped by his long term girlfriend Luna. His uncle offers him a job, buy a house in Hertfordshire to restore and sell for a profit. Charlie takes this lifeline to regroup, only to hear hoofbeats into the night and is intrigued. Along with his neighbor Edie, they hope to uncover the strange happenings and discover Katherine Ferreras. As they delve more thr story of Kat emerges. Of how she became a highway robber to save her village. Of how she loved and lost. A tragic tale of a spirited young woman broken by the men around her.

A compelling historical read, with nicely woven storylines between the timelines.

This was an atmospheric and addictive read that brought 17th century female highwayman Katherine Ferrers to life.

I really enjoy a good timeslip novel, where past and present merge to create two stories connected by one figure. Katherine’s tale was poignant but full of adventure, and Charlie’s story was not only a tool to enhance her story, but provided a warm and comforting narrative set in the modern day.

Katherine’s life was utterly fascinating, from her marriage at just 14 to a husband she had no affection for, to becoming a renowned highwaywoman to save her own fortune. Collins captures her boldness and bravery, whilst also shows her humanity, and what life was often like for married women in the 17th century.

Charlie’s story deals with themes of heartbreak and healing, set in the same location as Katherine, centuries later. Through his eyes, we see her restless spirit and the poignancy of her story.

The Wicked Lady is beautifully written and absorbing, despite tackling some more serious themes. I devoured this book within a few sittings, and became wrapped up in the story.

I also loved seeing the pictures at the back of the book that show the real locations of Nomansland Common and The Cell. Plus a celebrity appearance from Alan, who features in the book!

This is a great new story that pays homage to Katherine Ferrerrs, a highwaywoman whose story needs to be told.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I slipped into this book like a pair of comfortable shoes…. wonderful and totally perfect!.
With a dual timeline, the story was eerie and we hear about unfortunate Kate, a young bride who’s married for the use her money can be for her new husband and his needy projects for the royal member. She has no control over this element, her husband can decide where the money goes. We follow her story intermittently with Charlie’s. I thought it flowed really well.
Poor Charlie, who had come to live in a rundown cottage on Nomansland Common on Ferris Lane, had been dumped by his long term girlfriend Luna, who shot off to Cornwall to live a new theatrical life. She urged Charlie to return to his old self. The Charlie who she’d met and fallen in love with. Ouch!! So he leaves their old life behind to work for his Uncle Bill. They buy this cottage together, “a doer upper”. and he lives there with very little, but starts to fall in love with the area where the house is situated. Apart from the ghost of a woman on horseback who seems to turn up when he’s not expecting her, and looks so sad. Who is she? What does she want?
Then there’s the matter of a beautiful young woman who lives at the end of the row of three houses. Will she be a permanent fixture in his new life? Or is he too scared to love again after the heartbreak he suffered at the hands of his ex?.
I absolutely adored this story and I will definitely be looking up The Wicked Lady!!! I love stories loosely based around factual people and places in history.
I would like to thank Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy for review consideration via Netgalley.. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #JudyRLeigh.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

I didn't even read the blurb, I just pick up any new book by Elena Collins when I see one :-).
So, as is usual with Ms Collins, we have a novel that takes place on two levels of time. Firstly, we are in the here and now with the young saxophonist and craftsman Charlie, who has just split up with his girlfriend Luna. Or rather, she has split up with him and Charlie has to get his life back on track. The offer from his uncle Bill, the owner of a construction company, comes at just the right time: In rural Hertfordshire, the two buy a dilapidated building and renovate it from the ground up. The new area and especially the nice new neighbor Edie slowly bring Charlie back to normal life.... But that is only one part of the story in this novel, in the other time level we are about 400 years earlier in the time of Oliver Cromwell in the same area where the 13-year-old orphan Katherine Ferrers grows up and is married to the 16-year-old royalist Thomas Fanshawe. Fanshawe is a royalist and the main goal of this marriage was, at least for him, to get as much money as possible from his young wife's inheritance and use it to finance the royal cause. Of course, the fun-loving, clever and rebellious Katherine saw things a little differently - especially when she then met the love of her life..... However, Katherine's life is supposed to be dramatic and her mind cannot find peace - and so centuries later Charlie and Edie will meet Katherine and reconstruct her life as best they can.

Fun fact: Katherine Ferrer and Thomas Fanshaw are real people, they really existed, and Katherine has gone down in local annals as a local celebrity, the "Wicked Lady", because as the "Highway Woman" she robbed rich travelers and gave some of the money to the poor, and some - this is Ms. Collins' poetic license - hoarded it for herself and her future.

Katherine and her spectacular but short life is the connecting link between the two time periods, and the author has once again created an exciting, atmospheric rich and very emotional story from this.

My reading impression: I was able to immerse myself in the story from the first page, and the story grabbed me. Exciting and well-plotted, with credible and likeable characters – and with a little paranormality, it had something. And of course the author writes fluently and captivatingly, no question about it.

I just found the ending a little abrupt and unsatisfying. That was a bit too fast for me. I didn't think Katherine's story was really told to the very
end, and Charlie and Edie also came to an agreement pretty quickly, and then there was an epilogue with peace, joy, and happiness - hmm, yes, I love happy endings and expected one, but I also had the feeling that the book had to be finished quickly and the author wanted to get to the end. I felt something was missing. So I'm giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Ms Collins has set her own standards so high in her previous books, but in my opinion the "Wicked Lady" doesn't quite live up to them.

But whatever, it was "still" great, and I was very well entertained! Romance, history, a little ghost story, "true crime", and lots of emotions - it's all in here, I can highly recommend the book!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy!

The Wicked Lady by Elena Collins

A dual timeline story by the author who does it best !

Set in 1648 and present day we follow Katherine Ferrets and Charlie Wolfe

I loved that the story was also about a female highway person and that the story was about many genres. Really
Enjoyed it.

Oh wow, what a wonderfully told story, and a great way to remember and imagine the life of 'The Wicked Lady'! Elena Collins is an absolute must read author for me, I am full of awe in how well researched and put together this story is. It's a dual timeline that splits between 1600s and the now. We follow Kate and Charlie's story. Kate is an orphan who has to marry at 13 and her inheritance is then in the hands of her husband, royalist Thomas Fanshawe. Charlie has been dumped by his girlfriend and has given up London life to help his uncle Bill refurbish a rundown cottage for profit, there with his best friend and dog Alan, life starts to change. Although, the ice cold breeze and shadows of a woman on horseback have him a little perturbed. His friendship with his neighbour Edie and her dog Bianca starts to open his eyes to life outside of mourning the end of something and looking at the beginning of his new life with a brighter light. She too feels the ice shadows and shares rare glimpses. Together they investigate who she was and what her path could have been.
Kate's life was lonely, her husband away at war and paying her little to no mind when present. She strikes up an instant bond with someone she shouldn't and so her story unfolds. Elena writes so cleverly and with good humour, I was gripped and couldn't wait to read more and have my imagination play me the story as I swept from page to page. 5 big shiny stars!!!! look forward to the next one!!!

The premise of this book sounded really interesting. Katherine Ferrers is a fascinating character from history - a teenager in a loveless marriage turned highway robber. Charlie’s story was also interesting as he tried to find his footing after the unexpected end of a relationship. Charlie has his own personal journey with a bit of mystery thrown in as he and his neighbor, Edie, try to find out more about a ghost haunting their neighborhood. The ghost they seek is Katherine Ferrers. Her story set in the late 17th century seems to be more about a woman finding some semblance of agency with all of society against her. The problem with the book is that I just don’t think the two stories did mix as well as some other dual timeline novels I have read.

The true history surrounding Katherine Ferres is really interesting, but I’m not sure it was truly explored in this book. I wanted more.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4

Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the ARC!

This book was amazing! It was the perfect mix of early historical time period and present time. The main character was very well written and I definitely became attached to her by the end of the book.

Another fantastic well written time slip novel by this author. The beauty of these books is that you are engrossed immediately into the two linked stories; one present day and one in the life of Katherine Ferrers, a highwaywoman living in the 1600’s. As in all Elena Collins’s novels, it is based on past true events and characters, exquisitely researched, which are vividly brought to life for the reader. I eagerly await the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance review copy.

My favourite genre is timeslip and because I've read all of Elena's books I settled down eagerly for this one and I was not disappointed, the brilliant story of Kate Ferrers was entrancing with all of the well written characters coming to life from the page in a thrilling tale of love, friendships and loss, magnificent!

An eerie prologue sets the scene for the story of Katherine Ferrers believed to be the first female Highwaywoman. Elena, in her true magical style, weaves a spellbinding story bringing together myth and legend about Katherine. A girl aged 14 married to someone just so he could squander her wealth on his mission to bring Charles the 2nd to the throne. In the 17th century, women had no rights and Katherine was very determined to not allow him to take everything she owned, but not for her but for the villages her husband tried to fleece. Moving to Ferrers Lane, in an attempt to mend a broken heart, Charlie is petrified to hear horses hooves and snorts outside with no sign of anybody there, linking up with his neighbour Edie they resolve to discover the truth about The Wicked Lady.
I love Elena's dual timeline novels, she brings long forgotten people back to life to tell their stories. Her modern day characters are relatable and don't detract from the earlier storyline. From the written word you can tell the amount of research that goes into writing these books
Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and not expected

Loved that this was based on a true story.. Gripped me from chapter 1, a spellbinding and heartbreaking timeslip novel, uncovering the intriguing story of another brave woman that history forgot which I knew nothing about prior to reading this fantastic book!

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I RATED THIS BOOK 4 STARS. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO READ THIS BOOK ASAP. SO SO SO GOOD.